most famous among all is the gorgeous jardim botânico - the former royal gardens often used in movie and television productions, and home to fountains, lakes, stone benches, toucans, and beautifully landscaped corners. home to some some of the rarest and most endangered plants species on the planet, the jardim botânico do rio is the garden of excellence.

initially known as the royal orchard, prince regent dom joão de bragança (future king dom joão vi) founded the garden, in 1808 as his own private garden where he planned to grow a wide variety of spices imported from the west indies.